This thesis deals with the ethnographical and sociological analyses of the modes of use of agriculture “in the social sphere”. Two Japanese and Belgian municipal actions are treated in parallel: The ... [more ▼]

This thesis deals with the ethnographical and sociological analyses of the modes of use of agriculture “in the social sphere”. Two Japanese and Belgian municipal actions are treated in parallel: The Centre for the Creation of Agri-rural Life (Nô-Life Sôsei Center in Japanese) launched in 2004 in Toyota City, which aims at the reinvigoration of fallow land and the promotion of the ikigai (“Life worth living”) for an aging population of permanent residents. In Belgium, the Work Training Initiative at Ferme Delsamme (Entreprise de Formation par le Travail Ferme Delsamme in French) launched in 2002 in La Louvière City, which aims at the socio-professional integration of at-risk adults through organic agriculture. Based on the analysis of forms of engagement of operators and users in their relationships of interaction and their efforts at adjustment of the tension, this thesis proposes the idea of “ethical” regimes of action that consist of a minimum number of principles for reflection and practice available to be used by actors. This thesis identified in particular the importance of two characteristic forms of these regimes: compassion (taking an infinite responsibility to address individuals in distress) amongst operators; social autonomy (the balance between individual autonomy and relational dependency based on the recognition of vulnerability and fragility) amongst users. Agricultural activity is defined here as the intermediate space supporting the combination and the performance of these regimes that are not very visible and formalized, and difficult to objectify and justify. [less ▲]

The work of socioprofessionnel inclusion shows a characteristic mode of exercise of neoliberal and contemporary governmentality. The case of a device of social inclusion through organic gardening in ... [more ▼]

The work of socioprofessionnel inclusion shows a characteristic mode of exercise of neoliberal and contemporary governmentality. The case of a device of social inclusion through organic gardening in Belgium aims in his form “production of regulatory body” which combines concretely the stakes of economic regulation and control of the individual. Far from being a simple illusionary effect of an ideology, that place of operation constitute a central place of legitimation of this social action inscribed in a policy of the social active state. After showing some elements of discursive and normative framing of the action, we will examine the effects of this framing from the form of commitment of the operators in their concrete space of activities. The compassionate regime of action of these workers, combined to civic one, is in the center of the political and practical test of this new governmentality. [less ▲]